Gun plans for 3D printers on social media platforms

Gun plans for 3D printers on social media platforms

Twitter and Facebook have been criticised after gun plans for 3D printers were found on their platforms (stock picture)

Twitter and Facebook have been criticised after gun plans for 3D printers were found on their platforms, amid concerns they could be used by criminals.

‘The Daily Telegraph’ was able to download blueprints to print plastic pistols, which are illegal under UK law, after discovering links on the networks to a website hosting the schematics.

Last month, Facebook pledged to ban the sharing of such information, but its users have successfully evaded its automated filtering system by slightly altering the website links.

Philip Boyce, a firearms expert, said the weapons could “without a doubt” be used to kill, and gangs were becoming more likely to use them as 3D printers become “cheaper and cheaper”. Mr Boyce said such weapons, which “can be quite successfully printed on 3D printers”, only fire once or twice before degrading but that “one or two shots is more than enough”.

After it was informed of the posts, Facebook removed all five. However, Twitter deleted only one of four posts found on its platform.

A Facebook spokesman said: “Sharing material on how to manufacture firearms using 3D printers or CNC milling machines is not allowed under our community standards. In line with our policies, we remove this content from Facebook as soon as we identify it.”

Twitter said it did not comment on individual accounts for privacy and security reasons.